Combination end and coupling for display-cases.



L; J. SMITH-. COMBINATION END AND COUPLING FOR DISPLAY GASES. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12, 1913- Pate nted Jan.12,1915.

'plavor show cases.

N TnD srarrns PATENT ornion.

' v Laotian-D J. SMITH, or DAYTON, OHIO.

COMBIN1TIONENT) AND COUPLING IF OR DISPLAY-CASES.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

; Application filed November '12, 1913. .Serial ml 800,431.

Z'oallltokom it'may con-cem'. I

"Be itlmown thatI, LEONARD ,1. SMITH, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, iii the c'ounty of Montgomery and State of Ohio; have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Ends and Couplingsffor Display-Cases, of whichtlle following is a specification.

My invention relates to display (zasesfland particularly to a coupling member for connectmgsuccessn'e un ts or sections-of dis:

The object ofthe invention is to provide .-a coupling member simple instructure as well as in means and mode of --operation which will 11' t only 'be cheaper in construction, but willibe leliicient in use, easily as.-

Jsrmbled, readily-accessible for cleaning or repairs and unlikely to get out of order.

Ithas heretofore been'the custom to arrange show or display cases in retail stores end-to end and 'in contact one with the other. Such show cases are usually con 'structed as complete units, that -is,. each show caseis provided not only with rear, front and top walls. but with two 'end walls. The placing ofsuch show cases end to end tervening space and presents an unsightly 'appearance.

To obviate the foregoing difficulty and to provide means for coupling a series of show cases into a cont nuous structure having 'singlepartitions or division walls between succeeding units is one ofthe primary objects of the present invention. 7 L Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 1s a perspective view of the adjacent ends of two show case sections or units, separated one from the other. with thev coupling member forming the subject matter hereof in place. Fig. 2- is a detailperspective view of the coupling member disconnected from the show case. Fig. 3 is a 'detail sectional view showing the relative location ofthe coupling member and the adjacent show case units. Fig. at is a detail sectional view showing the relative relation ofthe show case and the coupling member, when used merely as an end .wall at the end of the tier. big. 5 1s a detail sectional vview of the coupling member as constructed of sheet mate-"- rlal.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe'several j views.

Inthe'dra wings, l are show casesof' ordinary construction; having side and top walls of glass. The adjacent end walls of Patented Jan. 12,1915.

such cases are removed and the coupling member forming the subject 'matter hereof 1s substitutedtherefor. This coupling memberxshown in detail in Fig. 2 comprises a frame 2 of .a size equal to the endopening 3 of the show cases 1.

Secured within the frame 2 glass plate 4. This glass plate 4 may be secured in any suitable manner.

In the drawings, strips of molding 5 are is a single shown located at opposite sides of the glass and secured to the inner faces of the frame 2. A strlp of pack ng material such as felt,

is preferably through not necessarily interposed between the molding and the glass as shownat 6. To prov de for -the-ready'reas shown atj', through-which slot the glass l may he slid into position between the moldings 5. The coupling membe sforms placement of the glass -LL. in the event of" breakage, one side of the frame 2 is slotted.

a single wall or partition between succeed-- I ing show cases. The end walls of the succeeding show cases being removed, the coupling member as'shownin Flg. 2 is insertedinto one of the show cases the distanceof one half of'thethickness of the coupling as shown at the left in Fig. 1. The second show case is then abutted upon the end of the first show case unit insuch position that the protruding half of the coupling member 2 will extend into the open end of the sec-- 0nd unit. i

f The coupling-member m'ay be'secured to the succeeding unit by means ofscrews, nails, brads or otherfastening devices ex tending through the molding and frame as. shown in Fig. 3. It is obvious that-rabbets might-be formed in the open ends of'the show cases to receive the coupling member;

At the end of the tier of show casesg' a coupling member is inserted within the opin end of'the case and adjusted flnshetherewith as shown. in.Fig. 4. at time Eddi tional show c units. are to se as r ' terminal coupling member maybe shifted jacent edges being extended perpendicularoutward and be made to engage" the next succeeding unit herein before described.

. In Fig. 5- there is shown a construction in whichtheframe of the coupling member is constructed of sheet metal,- the "opposite edges of the material being bent inward upon themselves to parallelism and the adto the main portion of the frame to form flanges 9 spaced one from the other between which the glass at is inserted. This construction is employed in the same manner as the one before described.

From the above description it will be ap-' parent that there is provided a device of the character described, possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which is obviously susceptible of modification in form, proportion,

detail construction or arrangement of parts,

without departing from the yprin'ciple involved or sacrificing anyof its advantages.

While in order "to comply with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specifi c as to certain structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific details but that the means and construction herein described comprise but one mode of putting the invention into effect,

and the invention is- 'therefore claimed broadly in any of its possible forms or modifications within the'scope of the appended claims;

Having thus described my invention, 1,

' claim:

1. In a coupling member for display cases, the'combin'ation with two open ended cases located adjacent one to the other of a frame having a telescopic connection with the open ends of both cases and'a partition wall carriedby said frame, the construction and arrangement being such that the frame maybe adju ed to a position flush with the end "ofeithc case or may taneously into both cases.

2.= In a device asdescribed, the combination with two display cases, of an end frame common to both cases telescoping within the adjacent ends of the cases and a partition wall carried by said telescoping frame, the construction and arrangement (being such that the frame maybe adjusted to a position flush with either case.

3. The combination 'with two adjoining be extended simulv cases each having an open end abutting the open'ends of the other case, of a, movable partition adjustable longitudinally in relation with the cases to positions wholly withjusted within the frame and removable therefrom through said slot, said frame being slidable laterally in the display case to bring the frame slot .into and outof regist-ry with the'side wall of the case thereby opening and closing the slot.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my'hand this3rd day of Noven'iber, 1913.

LEONARD J. SMITH.

IVitncsses' 4 C. AI" CRAIGHEAD', Bass C-noasnux. 

